Bruiser would never be aloud on the bed not in his lifetime.

Phoenix has her once in a blue moon nights when I had a bad day or what ever.

And my new kitten sleeps with me and my foster dog who has puppys sleeps in bed everynight but she will go to a new home in about 2 to3 months. When her puppys are grown.

Roscoe was sleeping in bed but he hurt me cat so he was rehomed in a only pet home. I had a lot on my plate and had to do something

Both of mine are allowed to sleep on the bed when invited. If not invited they have to get told 'off'. Usually they only last an hour or two anyway; it gets too warm and they go find a cool spot on the floor.

In the winter though... I admit sometimes I encourage them. Especially before I had the heaters replaced in my little fixer-upper. It gets COLD with no central heat, lol You gotta love old houses...

 Quote: Stephanie St Julian

my foster dog who has puppys sleeps in bed everynight but she will go to a new home in about 2 to3 months. When her puppys are grown.

Where, praytell, are the puppies sleeping, and why isn't mom with them?

i know he's not in bed with me before i fall asleep....but seems to jump up after

The puppys are in my bedroom also right next to my bed.

They orginally where in my closet but I moved them next to my bed. My matress sits on the floor so she is only like 6 to 10 inches away from them at all times.

She is my little shadow always up my but. If her babys are quite she is my big baby. She needs to be touching me or my husband.

ok i have always allowed my dogs to sleep in the bed or on the couch if they so choose, most of the time the opt not to, but with my new puppy i am forced to make him sleep in the bed with me as my roomate sleeps on my couch, and he would keep her up all night ( my roomate that is.

he normally sleeps at the foot of the bed, and wheni hear him jump off i know its time to bring him out to pee, then we go back to bed. sometimes he will jump back off and sleep on the floor, but he never begs to be picked up and put on the bed.

our family dog ( charm) a female pittbull will do the same sometimes she will hop into bed when she is lonely or sad, most of the time she will sleep on the couch..

i dont see how this posses a problem.

 Quote: michael curry

ok i have always allowed my dogs to sleep in the bed or on the couch if they so choose, most of the time the opt not to, but with my new puppy i am forced to make him sleep in the bed with me as my roomate sleeps on my couch, and he would keep her up all night ( my roomate that is.

he normally sleeps at the foot of the bed, and wheni hear him jump off i know its time to bring him out to pee, then we go back to bed. sometimes he will jump back off and sleep on the floor, but he never begs to be picked up and put on the bed.

our family dog ( charm) a female pittbull will do the same sometimes she will hop into bed when she is lonely or sad, most of the time she will sleep on the couch..

i dont see how this posses a problem.

Michael, the dog is "choosing" here. "If they so choose" or "they opt not to" are not the right mindset here. You're supposed to be the chooser and the one who opts.


With many dogs and with very good pack leaders, there's probably no big deal here. But based on your post about hitting to "correct" for unwanted behavior when the dog has not been trained the wanted behavior, I'd say that in this case, fair pack leadership might be a better focus for you than "if the dog chooses."

The connection may be hard to see at first. And again, an established leader with a laid-back and non-challenging dog may have no problem with inviting the dog onto the bed. (See that word "invite"? The dog still did not "opt.")

But truly, if I were you, I would make a big effort to read about pack leadership, marker training, and environment-control.

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingebooks.htm

Check out number 3 and number 4. And I really would order DVD/Video number 302.

And then http://leerburg.com/308.htm

Edit to add: I don't mean that I think you should start correcting a dog for something you have allowed all along. I mean that you will be glad you did it if you start learning pack leadership and good training.

I wish someone else would address this. I have the Mike-Arnold-no-coffee thing going on.

 Quote: Michael curry

ok i have always allowed my dogs to sleep in the bed or on the couch if they so choose...
i dont see how this posses a problem.

I don't see how you've avoided being eaten by your dogs.

You're laying down crappy pack structure, and then you beat them.

You might do well to invest in a suit and tie for your trial, because at the rate you're going, it won't be too long before you dogs attack someone.

My dogs have never slept in my bed. I use crates and other dogs I've had sleep on the floor. If you don't trust your dog not to pee on the floor or bother your roomate you could always shut your door or use a baby-gate to keep them in.

My sister who has GSD's and Shnauzers lets her dogs sleep in her bed from puppy's on. She and her husband are pack leaders from the start, but the dogs try to get possessive, none the less. My sister and her husband have just never let things go to far into any serious fights. The dogs do have a pack order with people as leaders.

Hitting is not a good idea. I've seen dogs become hand shy or defensive biters that give no warning. This can get dangerous around children who just want to pet your dogs.

My experience is limited to watching dog behavior shows (Cesar and "It's me or the dog") along with a lot of reading on this website and working with trainers.

I've had not necessariy had issues, but a dog can develop issues at just about any age so don't expect that if they are not becoming possessive or dominant now, that they won't down the road.

My two cents WITH COFFEE

Take Connie's advice and read up and get some DVD's if you can!